North Carolina anyone?

I keep telling dh that you get far more for your money in the US property-wise than you do here, especially when you live outside a city.

That's certainly true once you get outside the expensive metro areas (although my parents live in the Houston area which is dirt cheap as far as housing goes!)

wow - you'd be moving to my town!

I've lived in Apex since I was a young kid (4ish) - and I go to NCSU in Raleigh now. 

Cary tends to be full of stuck-up soccer moms, and has higher tax rates than Apex (for example). They also have some of the most ridiculous business and private property zoning and management laws I've ever seen (one of the diners had totake down flourescent lights on their sign because it was considered "a public nuisance and shocking to the eye" or something along those lines - true story) - so Cary isn't necc. the favorite suburb of many people around here.

I happen to live right on the Apex/Cary border - close enough to not be in BFE Apex, but also NOT in Cary - for that I'm grateful.

If you have kids, I would suggest looking into school reassignment plans HEAVILY - there have been major reassignments for the past 8 years AT LEAST, and i'm sure there were more (I just wasn't old enough to pay attention).  My suggestion is to see if you can get maps, and narrow your search down to neighborhoods that have only been reassigned a few times, or none at all (mine hasn't ever been reassigned for example).  That will help in the future as well.  Beware that people moving into the area often do this as well, or the people selling in those neighborhoods will use that as an excuse to jack up the price a bit - depends if you want your kids going to a different school every year (or two) on how much you're willing to pay.

As far as the general area, RDU is STILL expanding.  They're completing another highway outside our beltline (440 is the inside beltline, 540 is the new one) and this is slated to take another 10-15 years if I'm not mistaken.  Holly Springs and Fuquay Varina are two  towns by me that have been growing a lot, and house prices have gone up a LOAD in the past 5 years - if you're looking to invest and move somewhere later, I would suggest buying a house in areas a bit further out.  Once 540 gets completed those areas will be the next "Cary" - and house prices will go up even more.

In terms of life around here, my opinion is bias.  I'll say that straightaway.  However,  Raleigh Memorial Auditorium does a good job of bringing quality shows to the area, they're re-doing the Raleigh convention centre, and are generally trying to revitalize the Raleigh area. 

If you're a younger couple, Glenwood South is a GREAT place for a night out, tons of bars and good restaurants, ranging from Italian, Sushi, Greek, Pizza, American - you name it - they've got it.  The music scene in Raleigh leaves a bit to be desired if you like more mainstream music, however as I mostly listen to dnb and hip hop - it's great 

The alltell pavillion + ampitheatre has a summer concert schedule every year, I've seen Bon Jovi, Blondie, Dave Matthews Band, Matchbox 20, Rod Stewart and The Beach Boys (ok keep in mind those are anywhere from when I was 7 years old until now) there.  There's a new ampitheatre in Cary on the regency lake as well, and that has brought Jack Johnson and the Black Eyed Peas in recent months (or rather, in my recent memory). 

If you work in any sort of science/biomed/biotech/technology field at all - RTP (Research Triangle Park) has a load of great firms.  IBM, GlaxoSmithKlein, Cisco, Nortel Networks, Pfizer... just to name a few (that I pass by on MY way to work).  It's definitely an area where if you want a job/career change, you probably wouldn't have to move house as well.

As far as commuting - I live in Apex, work in Durham, and go to school in Raleigh. I LOATHE the highway as I'm not one for sitting in traffic, so taking mostly back roads (there's one that goes from Apex to RTP and it runs through Cary) - my commute to Durham takes 30-45 minutes, and my commute to Raleigh takes no more than 15, 20 on a bad day (though I do take the highway to get to Raleigh).  You'll use highways to get around here, as there aren't that many convenient back roads to take (sans the one I take to get to RTP, which is really popular to use).  Just be prepared for loads of driving period, as you really do have to drive to get EVERYWHERE here, if not becasuse of distance, than becuase if you walked-  you'd be walking across highways and the like to get where you needed to go - not safe!

If you have any more questions I am happy to answer them, I know a decent amount about Raleigh - though not that much about North Raleigh (the Cpital Blvd area is where I stop knowing about things) - but i'm happy to answer any questions you may have!

-Katie

wow - you'd be moving to my town!

I've lived in Apex since I was a young kid (4ish) - and I go to NCSU in Raleigh now. 

Cary tends to be full of stuck-up soccer moms, and has higher tax rates than Apex (for example). They also have some of the most ridiculous business and private property zoning and management laws I've ever seen (one of the diners had totake down flourescent lights on their sign because it was considered "a public nuisance and shocking to the eye" or something along those lines - true story) - so Cary isn't necc. the favorite suburb of many people around here.

I happen to live right on the Apex/Cary border - close enough to not be in BFE Apex, but also NOT in Cary - for that I'm grateful.

If you have kids, I would suggest looking into school reassignment plans HEAVILY - there have been major reassignments for the past 8 years AT LEAST, and i'm sure there were more (I just wasn't old enough to pay attention).  My suggestion is to see if you can get maps, and narrow your search down to neighborhoods that have only been reassigned a few times, or none at all (mine hasn't ever been reassigned for example).  That will help in the future as well.  Beware that people moving into the area often do this as well, or the people selling in those neighborhoods will use that as an excuse to jack up the price a bit - depends if you want your kids going to a different school every year (or two) on how much you're willing to pay.

As far as the general area, RDU is STILL expanding.  They're completing another highway outside our beltline (440 is the inside beltline, 540 is the new one) and this is slated to take another 10-15 years if I'm not mistaken.  Holly Springs and Fuquay Varina are two  towns by me that have been growing a lot, and house prices have gone up a LOAD in the past 5 years - if you're looking to invest and move somewhere later, I would suggest buying a house in areas a bit further out.  Once 540 gets completed those areas will be the next "Cary" - and house prices will go up even more.

In terms of life around here, my opinion is bias.  I'll say that straightaway.  However,  Raleigh Memorial Auditorium does a good job of bringing quality shows to the area, they're re-doing the Raleigh convention centre, and are generally trying to revitalize the Raleigh area. 

If you're a younger couple, Glenwood South is a GREAT place for a night out, tons of bars and good restaurants, ranging from Italian, Sushi, Greek, Pizza, American - you name it - they've got it.  The music scene in Raleigh leaves a bit to be desired if you like more mainstream music, however as I mostly listen to dnb and hip hop - it's great 

The alltell pavillion + ampitheatre has a summer concert schedule every year, I've seen Bon Jovi, Blondie, Dave Matthews Band, Matchbox 20, Rod Stewart and The Beach Boys (ok keep in mind those are anywhere from when I was 7 years old until now) there.  There's a new ampitheatre in Cary on the regency lake as well, and that has brought Jack Johnson and the Black Eyed Peas in recent months (or rather, in my recent memory). 

If you work in any sort of science/biomed/biotech/technology field at all - RTP (Research Triangle Park) has a load of great firms.  IBM, GlaxoSmithKlein, Cisco, Nortel Networks, Pfizer... just to name a few (that I pass by on MY way to work).  It's definitely an area where if you want a job/career change, you probably wouldn't have to move house as well.

As far as commuting - I live in Apex, work in Durham, and go to school in Raleigh. I LOATHE the highway as I'm not one for sitting in traffic, so taking mostly back roads (there's one that goes from Apex to RTP and it runs through Cary) - my commute to Durham takes 30-45 minutes, and my commute to Raleigh takes no more than 15, 20 on a bad day (though I do take the highway to get to Raleigh).  You'll use highways to get around here, as there aren't that many convenient back roads to take (sans the one I take to get to RTP, which is really popular to use).  Just be prepared for loads of driving period, as you really do have to drive to get EVERYWHERE here, if not becasuse of distance, than becuase if you walked-  you'd be walking across highways and the like to get where you needed to go - not safe!

If you have any more questions I am happy to answer them, I know a decent amount about Raleigh - though not that much about North Raleigh (the Cpital Blvd area is where I stop knowing about things) - but i'm happy to answer any questions you may have!

-Katie

Hi Katie..almost neighbor! (We were just looking at homes in Scotts Mill)
I am in North Raleigh...so I can do Capital Blvd from there LOL
Triangle Town Center Mall is up this way and the usual trillion eateries...but then it goes very new subdivision.  They are building like maniacs...and yes, the school reasignments...sheesh.  Its a very neat area..as in kept up and almost weirdly pristine in many of the subdivisions.  Everything one needs is closeby.  The crime rate up near this end is very very low.  I find there are just these little suburban pockets of going back in time..farmhouses, Victorians, craftsman.  It is a lovely place.

Hi Katie..almost neighbor! (We were just looking at homes in Scotts Mill)
I am in North Raleigh...so I can do Capital Blvd from there LOL
Triangle Town Center Mall is up this way and the usual trillion eateries...but then it goes very new subdivision.  They are building like maniacs...and yes, the school reasignments...sheesh.  Its a very neat area..as in kept up and almost weirdly pristine in many of the subdivisions.  Everything one needs is closeby.  The crime rate up near this end is very very low.  I find there are just these little suburban pockets of going back in time..farmhouses, Victorians, craftsman.  It is a lovely place.

yeah - my parents were looking in north raleigh and by the airport loads when we were moving here apparently - they found a gorgeous house with loads of space and in a great neighborhood and a fireplace in the master bedroom.. but as they put it "you could see what the passengers were wearing when they were landing" - so they didn't buy.

if youve got kids school reassignment is a BIG one - north raleigh gets reassigned loads - due to all the growth - while I was never reassigned.  Saying that, the reassignment woes are starting to creep down to Apex (again due to all the growth).  It's a never-ending process.